Королі та капуста

           YouthinkI’mapaintedbutterfly;butinfactI’mthehardestworkedmaninthiscountry.TenyearsagoIlandedonitsshores;andtwoyearsagoonthepointofitsjaw.Yes,IguessIcangetthedecisionoverthisgingercakecommonwealthattheendofanyroundIchoose.I’llconfideinyoubecauseyouaremycountrymenandguests,evenifyouhaveassaultedmyadoptedshoreswiththeworstsystemofnoiseseversettomusic.

           "‘Myjobisprivatesecretarytothepresidentofthisrepublic;andmydutiesarerunningit.I’mnotheadlinedinthebills,butI’mthemustardinthesaladdressingjustthesame.Thereisn’talawgoesbeforeCongress,thereisn’taconcessiongranted,thereisn’tanimportdutyleviedbutwhatH.P.Mellingerhecooksandseasonsit.InthefrontofficeIfillthepresident’sinkstandandsearchvisitingstatesmenfordirksanddynamite;butinthebackroomIdictatethepolicyofthegovernment.You’dneverguessintheworldhowIgotmypull.It’stheonlygraftofitskindonearth.I’llputyouwise.Youremembertheoldtop-linerinthecopybook—"HonestyistheBestPolicy"?That’sit.I’mworkinghonestyforagraft.I’mtheonlyhonestmanintherepublic.Thegovernmentknowsit;thepeopleknowit;theboodlersknowit;theforeigninvestorsknowit.Imakethegovernmentkeepitsfaith.Ifamanispromisedajobhegetsit.Ifoutsidecapitalbuysaconcessionitgetsthegoods.Irunamonopolyofsquaredealinghere.There’snocompetition.